On Wednesday, Peru expects another day of mass demonstrations across the country against the government under President Dean Bolluart, a day after protests and violent incidents in the capital Lima.

The head of state on Tuesday called for a “national truce” as at least 46 people have been killed since the Latin American country’s political crisis erupted in December.

In Lima, thousands of protesters who had come to the capital from the Andean poor, many in traditional costume, marched through the center waving national flags and chanting “Dina the killer.”

Large-scale clashes erupted throughout the afternoon and evening between protesters, some armed with metal shields and throwing stones, and large police forces using tear gas extensively, AFP journalists who observed several of the arrests told AFP.

Dozens of people have been injured in the new incidents, including two photojournalists, one of whom works for Agence France-Presse.

no “truce”

Before yesterday’s demonstration, the second in Lima in less than 24 hours, Ms Boluarte again tried to reduce tensions, she asked for the “dialogue” to be resumed, “to set an agenda for each region” in order to “develop” the country. He assured that “not intends to hold on to power, which will respect the Constitution, and will step down after early elections in 2024.

Visibly agitated, Madame Boluarte asked:sorry for the deadand promised that investigations would be carried out to find out who was responsible. However, her intervention did not convince the protesters.

“We heard Miss Bolovarte. Her vision is pitiful. Peruvian people, all of us are not going to conclude a truce. We have nothing to discuss with Mrs. Boluart. The only thing people want is his resignation and new elections,” said Carlos Abedano, 35, holding the Andahuila tricolor flag at the center of the December riots.

“We don’t believe a word of what he says,” insists Rosa Sonko, 37, who came to the capital from Acomayo, a village at an altitude of 3,000 meters in the Cusco region (south). “We have 50 dead. How many mothers are grieving?

“We demand: firstly, that he resign, and secondly, that the Congress be changed, new elections. We want a transitional government.”

The protester was holding a doll with a bloody knife, to which was taped a photograph of the president who came to power after her leftist predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was overthrown by Congress on December 7.

The march was attended by dozens of army reservists in khaki trousers, tunics or caps. The country’s “populist” leaders have “trampled us for decades, but now the people have risen up,” said Crispin Quispe, a reservist from the Puno region. “We fought, we were hungry, we were cold. Without payment. And now they’re coming at us. We are ready for all battles.”

On Tuesday evening, the authorities announced that they were closing the airport of Cusco, the country’s tourist capital, which was added to the airports of Puno and Arequipa.

“Irresponsibility”

The unrest began after former President Castillo was removed from office and arrested on December 7, who was accused of attempting a “coup” by announcing the dissolution of Congress, which is preparing to impeach him.

His former vice president, who was elected alongside him in the 2021 election, verbally attacked him yesterday. He repeated the accusation that he was trying to carry out a “coup d’état” and “impersonating the victim”, while not giving an “answer” to the corruption cases in which he was allegedly involved. “There is no sacrifice here, Mr. Castillo: there is a country that bleeds because of your irresponsibility,” he said, recalling that he, like him, comes from a poor Andean region.

The crisis in Peru reflects a huge gap between the political and economic elite of the capital and the poor population of the provinces, where many support the former President Castillo, whose election victory was seen as something of a revenge for the contempt and racism of the elite, especially towards the natives.

On Wednesday, Bolluarte will speak to the Organization of American States (OAS) as the international community and human rights groups criticize the “disproportionate” use of force to crack down on protests. He promised to tell the “truth”: “The government of Peru and, above all, Dina Boluarte, has nothing to hide,” he assured.

Source: RES-IPE